EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE PUBLISHING

A Guide to Stag Beetles of Australia

Paperback
December 2017
9781486302086
More details
  • Publisher
    CSIRO Publishing
  • Published
    20th December 2017
  • ISBN 9781486302086
  • Language English
  • Pages 264 pp.
  • Size 5.75" x 8.5"
  • Images color photos & illus
$37.95

Most Australian stag beetles live secretive lives. Some species spend their entire life cycle inside decaying timber or under logs sunken into the soil. Yet these active recyclers of the forest are admired by beetle-loving people worldwide. Their aesthetic appeal and the rarity of some species make them of great value to collectors: the beetles in the subfamily Lampriminae are splendidly colorful, while others show an amazing variety in male mandible size and structure.

A Guide to Stag Beetles of Australia is a comprehensive account of the 98 lucanid species found in Australia. This book reveals their diversity and beauty, looks in detail at their morphology, habitats and ecology, and explains how to collect, keep and preserve them. Natural history enthusiasts and professional and amateur coleopterists alike will benefit from the use of this guide.

The book features some stunning images from entomologist and photographer Paul Zborowski. Paul has over 40 years’ experience of field-based study of insects and related creatures in habitats all over the world’s tropics, and operates a specialist image bank at www.close-up-photolibrary.com.

Preface
Acknowledgements

Part I
Classification
The language of entomology
Morphology
The Lucanidae
Origins of the Australian stag beetle fauna
Taxonomic studies of the Australian stag beetle fauna

Part II
Checklist of Australian Lucanidae
Aesalinae
Lampriminae
Syndesinae
Lucaninae

Part III
How to find stag beetles
Keeping live stag beetles
Field preservation and collection management
Entomological societies in Australia
Major insect collections in Australia
Recommended publications for your library

Glossary
References
Index

George Hangay

George Hangay has had an interest in insects since early childhood. He studied beetles in many parts of the world and in the last four decades he focused on the Australian fauna. After his retirement from the Australian Museum, where he worked as Chief Preparator, he participated in various projects as a consultant, curated the insect collection of AQIS (NSW) and wrote several articles and books. He continues to collaborate with many Australian and overseas coleopterists.

Roger de Keyzer

Roger de Keyzer is currently a research associate at the Australian Museum in Sydney. He is the author of a number of research publications in entomology and malacology, and two books on Lucanidae.

Paul Zborowski

Paul Zborowski is a qualified entomologist and photographer with over 25 years experience of field based study of insects and related creatures in habitats all over the world's tropics. He is the published author of a number of insect reference works including the Whitley Award winning Field Guide to Insects of Australia. He has a vast photo library of insect images, which he has built up over 30 years.